“I would like to have my own band.” The Hall of Famer has long wanted to own an NBA team. While Shaquille O’Neal has little interest in the Sacramento Kings, he wants to be the primary owner of an NBA team. The legend’s dream may be taking off, as there have been talks of NBA expansion and Shaq is on guard.
“I know Vegas hasn’t had an NBA team yet, but if they ever get to a point where they do have a team, I’d like to be a part of it,” “It’s a choice I like,” O’Neal said earlier in an interview. But he’s not the only one getting into this ownership race. LeBron James and Jeff Bezos are in the mix.
Jeff Bezos in the race to own the Boston Celtics
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According to a discussion in The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Buzz About Jeff Bezos’ Investment in the NBA Is Reall. “And in the last few days, there have been legitimate rumors that Jeff Bezos is going to buy the Celtics. And I think that’s true. I think he’s going to be one of the contenders,” Bill Simmons said on his podcastThe NBA franchise that won last season’s title is valued at around $6 billion. With his considerable resources, Jeff Bezos would easily have the capital to make such a purchase.
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Speaking about the reason behind Bezos’ potential investment, Simmons said: “…Jeff Bezos, when he looks at the Celtics, what does he see? What does he want? I think the only way to do it is it makes sense, I mean, okay, he’s got billions of dollars – but this is one of the most prestigious franchises, right?”
Simmons believes the league would be eager to sell the Celtics because it would make it easier for them to expand the league with new teams. With the Amazon founder’s net worth of over $200 billion and a seemingly failed attempt to secure NFL team Washington Commanders, it’s likely Bezos will jump into the race here and the owners won’t turn him down.
The reigning NBA champions are currently owned by the Grousbeck family, but the owners recently announced plans to sell the team. “The goal is to sell the time in two parts, with 51% leaving fairly quickly, 49% and then closing at the second closing. That’s what’s planned for 2028,” Grousbeck told CNBC last month.
Previously, another group had also considered making a bid for the Boston Celtics, but after Bezos came into the picture, they might change direction; a possible hurdle in Shaq’s ownership deal.
Why Jeff Bezos’ entry could become an obstacle to Shaquille O’Neal’s dream?
When Grousbeck announced the sale of the Celtics, it was reported that Fenway Sports Group was also interested in making a bid for the Boston Celtics. Had they followed through with the purchase, LeBron James would have ended up becoming a part-owner of the Celtics, thanks to his stake in Fenway Sports Group. Well, that’s now very unlikely to happen because there’s already someone in the running who can pay the Celtics owners a big sum.
This might just turn LeBron James’ head towards his previous target. “It’s wonderful. It’s the best fan base in the world and I would love to bring a team here (Las Vegas) at some point. It would be incredible,” said the Los Angeles Lakers star in 2022. After opting out of the Celtic race, James could once again I prefer to go for the Acesa goal that is also pursued by the Hall-of-Famer.
Las Vegas has long been considered a leading contender for an NBA franchise, but securing a team in Vegas won’t be easy, with some reports indicating the sale could be the most expensive and hard-fought sports acquisition in U.S. history. Still, both James and O’Neal have been active business investors, and it will be interesting to see which way the Aces’ ownership falls.
Stay tuned for more updates like this. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show.” Our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team selection, Asia Avinger.
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